The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17
-,,if1aE SUPREME COURT.
INTERESTING SKETCHES or THE
.hlq 45 GREAT JURIsTS.
Hew Each Came 10 be Appointed
Habits OF Life--COurt
O6cers.

American Magazine for August:
Probably none Of the justices sitting
upon the bench of the Supreme
Court today will leave as deep mark
on the institutions OF our country,
and they certainly have not so greatly
distinguished themselves in other
branches Of the public service, as
some OF their predecessors have
done. But | believe that the bench
has never been filed by jurists OF
such even equipment as those now
comprising the Supreme Court, for
dealing with the questions they have
10 pass upon; or of equal ability to
get through successfully with the
great mass OF business that yearly
finds its way to their docket. And |
do not wish to be understood as say
ing that the standard Of individual
attainments OF the court is not high.
Their legal learning and Judicial ex-
perience are, believe, in most in
stances, greater today than ever be-
fore in the history Of the court, and
there certainly has never been time
in the last century when the decisions
Of the Supreme Court have been less
frequently questioned than now.
Chief Justice Waite can hardly be
said 10 have had a national reputa-
ton when he was called by President
Grant TO preside on the Supreme
Court bench. Tive unfortunate nomi-
nations had been made which had TO
be withdrawn-those OF Attorney
General George III. Williams and
Caleb Cushing. Then President
Grant sent in the name OF Morrison
X. Waite. People asked each other
who he was. But when Ohio youched
for him, aud the Presidents friends
pointed TO his valuable services as
counsel for the United States before
the Geneva tribunal, the Senate was
satisfied, and unanimously voted to
confirm him. There was more Of 4
lottery about it than about the ap.
pointment OF any previous Chief JUS
tice in the history Of the court. No.
body felt sure that he had the learn.
ing or possessed the judicial cast OF
mind that would ft him TO wear the
robes Of Jay and Marshall and Chase,
but there was also feeling Of u ncer-
tainty as 10 where the Presidential
choice would next alight. Chief Jus.
tice Waite was vouched for as un.
stained in character aud we'll
equipped as lawyer, and no one felt
like raising his voice in opposition.
But, il Il was q lottery, 1t was one
in which the nation drew q prise.
Most usassuming. cool 10 judgment,
but Of tireless industry, Chief Jus.
tice Waite very soon convinced, not
only his colleagues and the bar, but
Congress and the people, that no
mistake had been made. lie came Of
Q long ancestry OF lawyers. The
Waites settled in Connecticut more
than two centuries ago, and even then
there we're men among them eminent
In the legal profession. Born in the
old town Of Lyme, he was educated
at Yale College, and when Just of age
was graduated in the same class with
William NJ. Evarts, Edwards Pierre.
pent, Benjamin Silliman and others
who have since been distinguished
in craftsmanship, science and litera.
ture. After studying law in his
fathers Office, he went westward, and
after completing his studies, began
to practice in Toledo, q. lie was a
successful lawyer-that was all that
could be faid OF him for the next
thirty years. He seemed TO have no
political ambition, aud held but one
public office before he was made
Chief Justice-that Of representa-
tive in the Ohio Legislature in l8i9
Ito which he was nominated against
his earnest protest.
Chief Justice Waite came 20 the
Supreme bench in the maturity OF
his powers-he was tilty.seyen years
OF age-and 20 vigorous Is his con.
stitution, physically and mentally,
that although he has now passed his
seventeen birthday, he shows as yet
no indications OF the approaching
feebleness OF age. As he walks along
Pennsylyauia avenue in Washington,
where he may be seen almost any
hne day on his way between his home
and the Supreme Courtroom al the
Capitol, his step is as light and
springy as that OF a boy; and when
he reads a carefully prepared opinion
In 4 complicated case, Il bears eyi
dence in every line, not ouly OF the
most patient research aud close an.
alysis, but also OF growing rather
than OF waning powers.
10 personal appearance Chief Jus.
tice Waite Is not imposing man
who is only OF medium hight rarely
is-but there IL a substantial solidity
about his figure that makes him lar
from the reverse. There Is no stoop
10 his broad shoulders, aud he car.
ries erect his LARGE. well formed head,
that Is now iron gray. His face is
reflective aud genial, with we'll
marked features aud keen, piercing
eyes. lie imprcsses a stranger as
being a clean cut, positive, deter.
mined man. His charming simpli-
city Of manner aud quiet, unassum-
ing demeanor make a deeper impress.
sion Of his greatness than any CON
scious assumption Of dignity could
do.
There is something that satisfies
our ideas Of the highest propricty in
the manner ia which the Chief Jus.
tice lives In Washington. His house
isa comfortable, large, brick edihce
In an eminen,ly respectable but not
ultra fashionable quarter Of the
national capital. His nearest neigh.
bors are John w. Foster, once
United States minister 10 Mexico
and subsequently, 10 Spain; John
W. Thompson, a banker; aud en-.
Senator William T.. Chandler; the
new Mexican Legation residence
will be on the adjoining lot. The in.
terror is that Of the residence Of a
m,n Of culture aud ample means
(not great wealth as the world goes
today; with spacious rooms, about
whose, furnishing and ornamental.
ton there is an air OF homolike re.
pose. Judge Waito's den" as he
all IL.